Now You Know

I liked this movie a lot and it's been in the back of my mind since I saw it two days ago. The characters are eerily familiar to people I know (maybe that's because the movie takes place in NJ , which is where I live)and even though the two landscapers are over the top , it works and helps balance out the more serious elements of the movie.

I don't normally see movies twice , but I'll probably see it again with friends on Dec. 13 and see what they think.

All I have to say is that I saw this movie two years ago (at Kevin Smith's Vulgarthon) and for some reason I've found myself thinking about it and wondering if it ever made it to DVD. If that doesn't speak well of a film, I don't know what does. OK, I am required to say more....the movie was funny, had a likable cast, and best of all was written in a way that was not predictable, stereotypical, bitter, or unrealistic. I'll admit that it did have some minor continuity issues. Yet, I'll also admit that I have the unfortunate ability of easily being able to pick those things out. That trait has ruined lesser movies for me. This film was very entertaining. I really liked it and hope that I get an opportunity to not only see this movie again, but also additional work by the multi-talented Jeff Anderson.

Jeff Anderson shows that he is not only one of the funniest unknown actors, but also a talented director and writer with this movie about a man trying to figure out why he's been left at the altar. I saw an early screening of the movie and must say that it was funny, heartfelt, and innovative. Not just a Kevin Smith knock-off, Jeff has taken his own direction making a romantic comedy for people sick of romantic comedies with simple solutions.

Fans of Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse know Jeff Anderson as "Randal," the hilariously obnoxious character featured in Clerks and a spinoff cartoon show. With "Now You Know," screening for the first time in near completed form at the Vulgarathon 2002 (If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's not worth the typing to explain), Anderson jumps into the world of writer/directors, and it is a very impressive, successful debut.

Jeremy (Jeremy Sisto) is at his wild bachelor party, but he doesn't have the strength to tell his fellow partygoers that his wedding to Kerri (Rashida Jones) has been called off. The two return home to their separate friends and contemplate their future. Jeremy pals around with two lawn mowers by day, bizarre criminals by night named Gil (Anderson) and Biscuit (Trevor Fehrman); Kerri hangs out with Marty (Heather Paige Kent) who loves to sexually torture Kerri's horny younger brother. The film follows the Jeremy and Kerri struggle to come to terms with their respective issues in very different ways.

The film has some very big laughs; most from the weirdos Gil and Biscuit, who have a bit of the famous Clerks in their poor job performance and smart, witty dialogue. The film drags only when it gets more serious and focuses on its two leads; throughout the film we are left in the dark as to the hows and whys of the lead couple's breakup; an interesting story tactic, but one that doesn't quite work because a lot of times the lead performers don't seem to be all that interested in one another. While the story plays, and the ending is extremely satsifying, I was usually more intrigued with the respective sidekicks' antics (Furniture heists and marrital advice from lesbians, just to name a few) than with the leads. Anderson, in a large role, is very good, and the rest of the supporting cast give outstanding performances. Also, keep a keen eye for cameos from Kevin Smith and wife Jen, plus Liz Sheriden, aka Helen Seinfeld.

Screening the film before he showed it to cast and crew, Anderson's print wasn't completely finished (And there were a few continuity glitches that several vocal audience members harped on), but it was clear that the film has some real potential. It played for big laughs, and, with a little tightening in the slower areas of the movie, could be an outstanding romantic comedy. The entire audience loved the film and was pleasantly surprised, it seemed, at the writing and directing talent they saw. Let's hope we see some more of it in the future.

Jeff Anderson's debut feature is very much a grown up romantic comedy. Admittedly I was expecting a Randal Graves style of humor that wasn't delivered but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the flick. I was pleasantly surprised at the sincerity of the characters and the believability of the dialogue. I'm certain that a lot of the more serious scenes would have been crude and sentimental in lesser hands. The Gil and Biscuit scenes give it just enough humor to counter the central storyline. There are of course certain issues with both Andersons direction and his own limited acting abilities, but in their own way they're sort of charming. In short, the film is very enjoyable and Jeff shows a lot of potential as a Writer-Director.